Haute-Provence Observatory, Astronomical observatory in Saint-Michel-l'Observatoire, France
The Observatoire de Haute-Provence is an astronomical observatory in Saint-Michel-l'Observatoire, in southern France, set on a plateau at roughly 650 meters (2,130 ft) above sea level. Several large domes house telescopes, including one with a mirror close to 2 meters (6.5 ft) across.
The observatory was founded in 1937, chosen for the clear, dry air of the Provence plateau, which made it one of the leading sites for sky research in France. Since 2012, it has been part of the University of Aix-Marseille, which strengthened its role in teaching and research.
The observatory opens for guided tours mainly during school holidays and on select afternoons throughout the year, so it is worth checking the schedule before visiting. Access to the dome requires climbing a staircase, which means it is not fully accessible for people with reduced mobility.
It was here, in 1995, that astronomers Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz confirmed the discovery of the first exoplanet, a planet orbiting a star other than the Sun. Their work was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2019.
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